2025 Academic Leadership Symposium
September 25 & 26, 2025 | The Artisan Hotel at Tuscan Village
Join fellow academic department chairs, deans, and division heads for a holistic survey of leadership skills and best practices. This inaugural AISNE event will create a space for meeting peers in similar roles in other New England independent schools and collectively building energy and capacity for the school year ahead.
Academic department chairs, deans, and division heads require a unique blend of instructional vision, leadership presence, managerial skill, and relational strength. Together we’ll explore the challenges and opportunities inherent in these roles that manage from the middle of a school’s staff and faculty structures.
As a gathering or meeting of people with shared roles centered on academics, curriculum, and teaching and learning this experience will offer you time to:
- Explore the real-world complexities of academic leadership in independent schools
- Reflect on your personal leadership style and goals
- Strengthen your feedback and communication skills
- Connect with peers who share your role, challenges, and aspirations
- Develop a practical action plan to bring new insights back to your school
The symposium includes structured sessions with facilitators, role-based discussions, collaborative problem-solving, interactive leadership workshops, and time for networking and community.
Pricing and Hotel
| Number of Attendees | AISNE Member Schools | Non-Member School |
| 1 – 3 | $519/pp | $619/pp |
| 4 – 9 | $470/pp | $570/pp |
| 10 – 19 | $415/pp | $515/pp |
Your registration includes breakfast and lunch on both days, and dinner on day one, as well as access to all learning and networking sessions. Hotel reservations are not included.
REGISTER HERE
We strive to create an inclusive learning environment for all. If you have any questions or accessibility needs, please contact us at info@aisne.org.
Hotel Information
The Artisan at Tuscan Village
17 Via Toscana, Salem, NH 03079
(603) 912-8450
AISNE has a block of rooms reserved at the The Artisan Hotel for the evening of September 25th. The rate is $274/nt for a standard king room. To book your reservation please click here. Please note that reservations to the AISNE block must be made on or before September 3, 2025, and are based on availability.
Agenda at a Glance
Thursday, September 25
- 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Registration
- 9:00 – 9:45 AM | Centering Wellbeing
- 9:45 – 11:00 AM | Unpacking the Role of Academic Leaders
- 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Giving and Receiving Feedback
- 12:30 – 1:30 PM | Lunch & Networking
- 1:30 – 2:30 PM | Giving and Receiving Feedback (continued)
- 3:00 – 4:30 PM | Role-Based Roundtables: Problem Solving & Collaboration
- 4:45 – 5:45 PM | Cross-Role Collaboration
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM | Dinner
- 8:30 – | Evening Networking
Friday, September 26
- 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Registration
- 9:00 – 10:30 AM | Collaboration Café
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Leadership Reflections & Action Planning
- 12:00 PM | Boxed Lunch & Farewell
Agenda
Thursday, September 25
8:00 – 9:00 AM | Registration & Breakfast
9:00 – 9:45 AM | Session 1: Centering Wellbeing
Jennifer and Hassan, your facilitators, will kick off the symposium with a conversation about leadership and wellness. We will discuss how to sustain ourselves while sustaining others, and spend time defining your goals for the symposium.
9:45 – 11:00 AM | Session 2: Unpacking the Role of Academic Leaders
In small group discussions, broken out by role, you will discuss the unique challenge of knowing when to lead, and knowing when to manage. We’ll discuss how to balance the responsibilities of academic leadership—teaching, managing faculty, shaping curriculum, and strategic visioning. During this session you will be introduced to the Eisenhower Matrix, which can help you determine how you are spending your time and energy.
11:30 – 12:30 PM | Session 3: Giving and Receiving Feedback
We will focus on the art of giving feedback that is useful and relevant during this session. You will engage in role-playing critical conversations and feedback delivery, and we’ll spend time on strategies for building a culture of feedback in your school that encourages growth, reflection, and accountability.
12:30 – 1:30 PM | Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 PM | Session 3 (continued): Giving and Receiving Feedback
We will focus on the art of giving feedback that is useful and relevant during this session. You will engage in role-playing critical conversations and feedback delivery, and we’ll spend time on strategies for building a culture of feedback in your school that encourages growth, reflection, and accountability.
3:00 – 4:30 PM | Session 4: Role-Based Roundtables, Problem Solving & Collaboration
In breakouts by role, you’ll use a structured protocol that leads you in best practices for collaborative problem solving. This is an opportunity for you to learn from your peers, as we will share strategies with the larger group.
4:30-4:45 PM | Break
4:45 – 5:45 PM | Session 5: Cross-Role Collaboration
Staying in your role-based breakout groups, you’ll discuss how to bring others in your school into your work. For example, what do you wish others knew about your role? These peer discussions will help lead you to a more engaged and collaborative environment across areas within your school community.
6:30-8:30 PM | Dinner
8:30-10:00 PM | Networking
Friday, September 26
8:00 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Networking
9:00 – 10:30 AM | Session 6: Collaboration Café
Jennifer and Hassan will be joined by Becky Biggs, AISNE’s Director of Professional Learning, for the Collaboration Café. This peer-driven conversation is a staple of AISNE’s conferences and symposia.It is an opportunity for professionals across AISNE member schools to come together in a relaxed, interactive setting to ask questions, share advice, and exchange feedback on common challenges and best practices. We will source questions from attendees prior to the event, and your facilitator will help foster generative conversations that lead to actionable takeaways.
10:30 – 11:00 AM | Break
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Session 7: Leadership Reflections & Action Planning
We will revisit themes from the symposium and ask what success looks like your specific position. This is a time to think about your action plan for implementing what you’ve learned back in your school, and to hear final takeaways from the group at large.
12:00 PM | Boxed Lunch, Final Networking & Departure
Enjoy your lunch on-site or on the go as we wrap up our time together.
About the Presenters
Jennifer Bryan, PhD, is a psychologist, consultant, coach, speaker and author with 40 years of experience working in educational and clinical settings. She earned her masters and doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BA in Creative Writing from Princeton University. She founded Team Finch Consultants in 2000, specializing in helping schools and organizations create inclusive communities by understanding and addressing Gender and Sexuality Diversity. She has written two books, a text From the Dress-Up Corner to the Senior Prom: Navigating Gender and Sexuality Diversity in PreK-12 Schools and a children’s book about stereotypes, The Different Dragon. She now works as Re-Set School helping K-12 schools strategically center wellbeing in all that they do. When faced with so much change and uncertainty, building equitable, healthy, connected, and sustainable learning communities is the essential work of every school. Jennifer has two young adult children and lives in Northampton, MA with her partner and one moderately well-behaved dog. She enjoys hiking, pickle ball, board games, Wordle and reading the newspaper (hard copy only).
Hassan Wilson is the Dean of Studies at Friends Seminary, a K – 12 independent school in New York City. In his 20+-year tenure at the school, Hassan has worn various hats, including roles as a teacher across all three divisions, Science Department Chair, trustee, and most recently, the Assistant Head of Upper School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Master of Teaching Biology from Brown University. Hassan took on the role of Executive Director at the Constellation Learning Institute, where he enriched his experience in online and blended learning while supporting teachers across the country. Beyond his official roles, Hassan has emerged as a leading voice in science education, flipped learning, restorative practices, and non-traditional grading practices. He has passionately engaged with schools and teachers beyond the walls of Friends Seminary, including consulting and leading professional development. Hassan’s contributions in the realm of blended, flipped, and online learning have garnered him multiple awards, including recognition as a top 50 innovator worldwide by the FLGI.
We look forward to learning alongside you and your peers at this event.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations and transfer requests must be sent via email to info@aisne.org. Cancellations received up to 10 days before the start of the event will receive a 100% refund, less a $150 administrative fee. This fee covers the cost of our minimum commitments with our hotel partners; thank you for your understanding. Transfers of registrations from one person to another are permitted up to 3 business days before the start of the event.
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